The Dillon tribune., 1887-10-07
A CREOLE MAIDEN.
SHE IS BORN INTO AN ATMOSPHERIC
OF CONSERVATISM.

OF to school.
A favored few, during the N..y Or
leans exposition. caught glimpse Of the
creole girl. and were surprised to find hel
not the intlOlcnt, selfish creature of untiis-
| ciplined mind and temper that she has
been so often pictured. They saw enough
| to convince hem that she had been un-
| Justly represented. yet not enough of her
domestic life, which the creole guards
| jealousy against intrusion, to be able to
correctly decide what special influences
| had made her SO unlike her American
sisters. If. however, one is intimately
enough acquainted with the creoles to
gain admission into their family circle, he
will not be long in fixing upon these de-
termining forces. The creole girl is born
into an atmosphere of conservatism. From
the beginning it is her very breath of life.
Not only custom, but the &C umulated
force of hercdity, combine to make her live
up to her ancestors. From the cradle she
is accustomed not only to affection, but
to it's demonstrations. All her family
and all their friends are not content to
love one another in careless, never-tell-
you-about-it fashion, but with protests
tions, with enthusiastic disclosures of
heart, with kisses frequent and warm.
The little maid could hardly be of cold
demcanor in this air of demonstrativc
affection, which, according to the Hin
docs, should never be wanting in tho
mansions Of the good
When she is old enough to come into
the parlor she grcets her mammals guests
with ease, and it is with angelic con-
fidencc that she puts up her cheek to be
kissed. The tact which is hers by Inherit
ancc Is already apparent, and not from
creole children come the accessions to the
ranks of les enfants terribles. The mother
encourages what mothers of northern
races deem frivolities. Understanding
the value of ease Of manner, graccfulness
Of motion and the nur,bcrlcss prcttinesses
which come only by long practice, she
very soon allows her youthful daughter
to take part in guy little dances, harmless
receptions, where little folk must net with
the propriety of the greater. These
gatherings entail no fine dressing, no
costly refreshments or late hours, which.
are the characteristics Of the modern
child's party.
AVOIDING lMpRopR1ETIEs.
The little girl is early taught to avoid
improprieties Of speech and manner. The
effect of mammals oft iterated ''Va tlouce-
ment, fillette," shows itself even in her
play, for she indulges in none of that wild
romping which is SO often distinguish
ing feature in the sports of Others of her
age and condition. The creole girl is
merry and vivaciOus, but she will never
defy the rules of etiquette or her mothers
frowns. She is her mothers constant
companion, and her father, too, courts the
society and confidence of his little daugh.
ter, and the bond between them is more
intimate, moro sacred, than Is usual be-
vp1nr fnt
Even after marriage she keeps up this
sweet intimacy, and her father is sure to
he ms interested and sympathetic a listener
to her rccounted trials and joys of house.
keeping and motherhood as is her mother.
There never was u creole girl who could
not dance. Her feet beat time naturally
to tho unison Of waltz music us soon as
she can walk. When about years old
she is sent to school, usually one kept by
some reduced gen+lewoman, where,
though the text books have not been
changed for years, and the demands for
higher education are unknown, the youth
full pupil is carefully grounded in elemen.
tary rules. She studies French and learns
facilc use of English, and she is likely to
learn Spanish or perhaps German. 1t is
no uncommon thing for our little creole to
speak we'll three or four languages. In
must be accompanied by servant or
some grown person. This is an inexorablc
rule Of all creole schools, the mistress
feeling personal responsibility for her
pupils from the time they leave home
until they again set foot within it, Amer
lean children must also conform to this
rule, else they will not be received.
GRABBED IN SONG.
The little creole takes naturally to
music, for she has been Graded in song;
It Is mothers milk to her; her earliest lul-
labics have been operatic airs. She daily
hears discussions as to the relative merits
and beauty of this opera and that, of the
excellcncies and deficiencies of the singers,
Her parents attend the opera at least once
week, and oftener when possible, even il
the entailed expense must mean very plain
living No musical heresies ever meet her
ears. Wngnerian music is tabooed, hut
French and Italian opera, ''Oh, ciel! COM
me ellie est ravissantc"' She imlihcs tho
::oo'l natured contempt of her people for
he American stage, but she frequently
accompanies her parents to their own be-
loved French theatre.
by easy steps the little maid has reached
the age when she must make her frs,
communion. Never until her n,arriag.
morn will she be the center Of as m,,c,
interest and loving attention as upon IL
day. 1t is a fetc which after the sclc,u
religious ceremonial is celebrated will
!castins, while gifts are bestowed ,,You
the young girl by all of her. family con.
nections. 1t is now time for lcr to 60 to
the convent to finish her education. She
may attend as u weekly boartler any one
of tho numerous converts within the city:
she may, Notwithstanding tears and re-
monstrances, be forced to submit to the
rigorous discipline of the Crsuline monas-